Lot's to Talk About!

Hey Everyone!

Wow--I was gone for nine days and missed hearing from you all. Today I'm trying to play catchup and it's a little painful.

Last week was amazing! I started my trip off by speaking to a large group of ladies in Perrysburg, Ohio (a suburb of Toledo). Loved my time spent there and the All About Me crop was a lot of fun too! If you're ever in the area, stop by the store Skrappaper. The owners, John and Susan Rapp, were so kind and it's got lots of fun stuff.

Next, I met all my sisters in Lancaster, PA and we stayed in Amish Country for three days. My sister, Carolyn, came from Ohio and the rest met us from Utah. What a blast we had--laughing, eating, hanging out with my Amish friends, and remembering the awesome times we had growing up. I hosted a crop at the Cozy Crop House (you must go there!) for my Amish friends and they had so much fun making cards. We laughed so hard when Lillian (see above photo) was helping my Carolyn use glue dots! Neither Carolyn or Lillian had ever scrapbooked before and they were so funny!

We then spent National Scrapbook Day at QVC and it was fun showing my sisters around the studio. Sally and Doug Davis treated us to a steak dinner at their house (I'm still dreaming about it--good times), then it was home early Sunday morning so I could be at church with my family.

In my last blog, I wrote about Jen Gallacher and her son Joey. If you haven't heard yet, Joey sadly passed away a week ago. Just wanted to share the note I got from Jen three days after his passing:

Lisa,

I want you to know how much I appreciated your sweet e-mail. I am so
touched that someone with your busy schedule would take the time to express
your love and support.

Losing my beautiful son was the hardest thing I have ever been through, but
I consider it a privilege to have been blessed with such an amazing boy. I
know that the Lord loves both Joey and my little family. I look forward to
the day when we can be together again as an eternal family.

I want you to know how much you have touched my life. Scrapbooking has been
a creative outlet for me for a very long time, but it became especially
helpful during my son's fight with cancer. It allowed me to have some
control over our situation and to create something of beauty during the long
hours of his care. Now that he has returned home to his Heavenly Father, I
am SO GRATEFUL to have committed so many of my memories to paper. And the
hundreds of photos I felt prompted to take will comfort my family for many
years to come.

Thank you so very much for sharing this gift with me. I am so grateful that
in addition to my journal, I have a tangible legacy of my son. I know you
were prompted to share this message with the world. Thank you so much!

Love to you and yours!

Jen Gallacher

I think you'll agree that Jen is one amazing person. Please continue to keep her family in your prayers.

Have a great week and I'll announce the cookbook contest in a couple of days.

Sincerely,
Lisa